Question

A car has a crumple zone that is 0.80 m (80 cm) long. In this car, the distance from the dummy to the steering wheel is 0.50 m. The car has a mass of 1,600 kg and the dummy has a mass of 75 kg. At the time of the crash, the car has a speed of 18 m/s. Based on the work-energy theorem, what is the smallest possible force that the dummy could experience during the crash

Answer 1

Answer: A -9.35

Explanation: The work-energy theorem states the work (Fd) is equal to the change in kinetic energy: Fd = ΔKE. Before the crash, the kinetic energy of the dummy is equal to one-half mass times velocity squared, or 0.5 · 75 kg · (18 m/s)2, which is equal to 12,150 J. The kinetic energy of the dummy after the crash is 0 J, so the change in kinetic energy is –12,150 J. If the crumple zone collapses completely and the dummy just misses hitting the steering wheel, then the distance d is 0.80 + 0.50 = 1.30 m. So we have:

F · d = ΔKE

F = ΔKE/d

F = –12,150 J/1.30 m = 9,346 N, or 9.35 kN